Robert Archambeau
Robert Archambeau was a distinguished Canadian artist, professor, and lecturer, renowned for his exceptional wood-fired ceramic vessels and teapots. Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1933, he later served in the U.S. Marine Corps before pursuing art education, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in ceramics. Archambeau moved to Canada in 1968, where he taught at the University of Manitoba for over two decades, ultimately serving as head of the ceramics department until his retirement in 1991.
His artistic practice is heavily influenced by traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean pottery, reflecting the serene natural landscape of his lakefront studio northeast of Winnipeg. Archambeau's work is celebrated for its blend of contemporary and traditional techniques, particularly through the labor-intensive wood firing process that adds unique character to each piece. He received multiple accolades, including the prestigious Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2003, marking him as a significant figure in Canadian art. Archambeau's ceramics have been exhibited internationally and are part of various museum collections. He passed away on April 25, 2022, leaving behind a legacy as one of Canada's leading ceramic artists.
Subject Terms
Robert Archambeau
Potter
- Born: 1933
- Place of Birth: Toledo, Ohio
- Died: April 25, 2022
- Place of Death: Winnipeg, Canada
Contribution: Robert Archambeau, a Canadian artist, professor, and lecturer, has been recognized throughout the world for his wood-fired ceramic vessels and teapots. He has been called the Potter’s Potter by the Canada Council for the Arts and been awarded the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts.
Background
Robert Archambeau was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1933. He grew up in Toledo and joined the United States Marine Corps at seventeen, serving for four years. He then worked briefly in a factory, where he saved enough money to attend university.
In 1959 Archambeau obtained a bachelor of fine arts in studio arts from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and in 1965 he earned a master of fine arts from Alfred University’s New York State College of Ceramics.
Following university, Archambeau taught for four years at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). In 1968 he immigrated to Canada and joined the faculty at the University of Manitoba School of Art. He taught there for twenty-three years and eventually became a full professor and head of the ceramics department, a position he held until he retired in 1991.
Works of Art
Archambeau is skilled in pottery, sculpture, photography, drawing, and printmaking, and his work in ceramics has earned national and international acclaim. His pieces are strongly influenced by Chinese, Japanese, andKorean traditions, likely due to his sabbaticals in East Asia during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His artwork blends the contemporary and the traditional, reflecting the natural landscape surrounding his lakefront studio northeast of Winnipeg.
Many of Archambeau’s ceramics have been wood fired, an expensive and labor-intensive process that is affected by many different factors, resulting in an unpredictable finished appearance. Wood firing is commonly a social activity, requiring several people to maintain the kiln, and Archambeau has worked with many well-known artists experienced in this form of art. Each artist’s kiln provides different results based on its structure, the type of wood burned, and the firing technique used by the artist.
Exhibitions, Awards, and Achievements
Archambeau’s ceramics and other artwork have been exhibited in Canada, the United States, Australia, Korea, Japan, and the Czech Republic. They are included in the collections of several museums and have been featured in exhibitions at the Burlington Art Centre, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Royal Ontario Museum, among others. Archambeau continues to produce and exhibit pottery known for its understated style and consistency throughout the corpus of his work.
In 2003 Archambeau became the first Manitoban to win the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts, Canada’s highest artistic honor, which is given to only six artists each year. Also in 2003 Archambeau received the Saidye Bronfman Award for Excellence in Fine Craft. He has also received a Manitoba Arts Council Senior Grant. In 2008 the Colorado-based National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts awarded him honorary membership.
Personal Life
Archambeau lived and worked in Bissett, Manitoba, a small town about 250 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg. He had a second studio at the University of Manitoba, where he was a professor emeritus. His son, also named Robert, is a critic, poet, and professor of English at Lake Forest College in Illinois.
Archambeau died in Winnipeg on April 25, 2022.
Bibliography
“Archambeau, Robert.” AKAR. AKAR Architecture Design, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.
“The Cup: Robert W. Archambeau – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.” Artcetera Gallery Sales Shop. College of Lake County, 8 Mar. 2012. Web. 5 Aug. 2013.
Karlinsky, Amy. “Robert Archambeau: 2003 Governor General’s Award in the Visual Arts.” Galleries West. T2 Media, 31 Dec. 2003. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.
Mckenzie, Heidi. “Robert Archambeau.” Ceramics Monthly 60.10 (2012): 51–53. Print.
"Mourning the Loss of Acclaimed Artist and Professor Emeritus, Robert Archambeau." University of Manitoba, 29 April 2022, news.umanitoba.ca/mourning-the-loss-of-acclaimed-artist-and-professor-emeritus-robert-archambeau/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
Rice-Jones, Keith. “Canadian Woodfiring: Manitoba.” Potters Guild of BC Newsletter Apr. 2009: 4. Print.
“Robert Archambeau.” Fire + Earth. Virtual Museum Canada, Canada’s Digital Collections Initiative, 2003. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.
“Robert W. Archambeau.” Winnipeg Art Gallery. Winnipeg Art Gallery, 2013. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.
Schicker, Christy. “Robert Archambeau: Pottery and Photography.” Alestle. AlestleLive.com, 6 Dec. 2001. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.